Scope opinions

Was gonna put a Burris FF3 on my Stoeger M3020 and ordered the EGW mount for it on February 2nd. After it not showing up I contacted the place I ordered it from and was told it's on backorder and they didn't know when they'd get more so I cancelled it. Now I'm second guessing putting it on there or going back to the Pentax Lightseeker I had on a previous 12-gauge. I do like the turkey plex reticle on it but the small size of the FF3 is appealing. Only concern is seeing the red dot in super sunny conditions. Thoughts?

Get the Burris mounted and you'll be glad you did. I have two mounted with the Burris mounting plate designed for a Marlin 336 (Available here), and one mounted with a Sumtoy mount. I would order a Sumtoy because his products are top-notch, he's a good guy to deal with, and I like buying from small businesses. But both work equally well and mount the sight as low as it can be mounted. Well, technically the Speed Bead mount is lower, but I personally like it mounted to the receiver.

As for sunlight, it's never been a problem and I often pattern shooting west at around sunset. You can select the brightness or just click the button once when turning on and it auto adjusts based on ambient light. The only visibility issue I've encountered is when hunting in hard rain. If the lens is covered in water droplets, it definitely blurs the sight picture and the dot. But that will be true with any optic.

The Fastfire has four adjustments. One is automatic and will adjust as the light changes. The other three are self adjustable by pressing the switch. Each press makes the dot brighter if you want to adjust it manually. Never had a problem seeing the dot and between my son and I, we have 5 of them on various turkey guns….

Seeing the dot is not going to be an issue. At least it never has for me

Batteries are a pain in those and not worth your aggravation. I'll give you $75 for and and relieve you from the stress

I would recommend the Swampfox kingslayer, Life time warranty and comes in green circle dot which stands out better to me. You can also get the sight in red circle dot or just red dot. There are no battery cap issues with the kingslayer as it just comes in and out of a compartment on the side. I changed my battery yesterday in about 20 seconds, doesn't change poi at all as the sight doesn't have to be moved off the gun to do it. Great sight , weighs 1 ounce and hasn't failed me yet. My son also uses one and loves it. It also has 10 adjustments , no issues ever seeing it, and automatic shut off after 4 hours if you forget to turn it off. Take a look and see what you think, great customer service if you have any questions for them. Good luck in your set up! Oh and absolutely 0 wrong with the Burris if you already have it as far as seeing the sight, I have a Nikon Spur which is similar in red dot and have no issues. Just pointing out the Swampfox comes in green circle dot which does seem to show up better for me. You will love the size of a sight like this!

there are a few good options out there on halo style sights now VS 5 years ago when the FF was the only real option. Burris does have a lifetime on it which is nice.

However for any others thinking of using one, just my 2 cents on this topic after using them on 2 guns for the past 5 years in the turkey woods. This is based on me hunting a variety of terrain types and I also generally hunt every day but sunday in the month of april. I have never had a battery die on me, and thats me turning the sight on when I leave the truck in the morning and turning if off once I kill a bird OR get back to the truck.

I have never had a bird spook on the reflection of the sight or anything like that. I have never had an issue seeing it in direct sun either. I have one farm I set up on that in the mornings the sun literally is in my sight path of where the turkeys fly down as it is coming up. Yes its not ideal and it does cause flare trying to see through the glass but again I have never had an issue seeing the dot, however if the glass is dirty it can and will cause some major distortion in that circumstance. Like most good hunters I generally set up in the shade given the chance or a shadow so that flare I speak of is only an issue if you are literally aiming at a bird with the sun almost directly behind it.

lastly rain CAN be an issue for them but they do come with a rain guard, which I use on those days. I wont take it off till the bird is confirmed on the way. big rain drops on the lens can really cause a star bright look on the dot but again I have never had to pass on a turkey or missed on due to rain (granted I dont hunt a ton in the rain)

having said all that I mount mine on a speedbead mount which allows me to still use the bead of my gun accurately incase of a failure which is also a big bonus for that type of mount.

thats just all my own personal experience with using them.

deerfever said:

I would recommend the Swampfox kingslayer, Life time warranty and comes in green circle dot which stands out better to me. You can also get the sight in red circle dot or just red dot. There are no battery cap issues with the kingslayer as it just comes in and out of a compartment on the side. I changed my battery yesterday in about 20 seconds, doesn't change poi at all as the sight doesn't have to be moved off the gun to do it. Great sight , weighs 1 ounce and hasn't failed me yet. My son also uses one and loves it. It also has 10 adjustments , no issues ever seeing it, and automatic shut off after 4 hours if you forget to turn it off. Take a look and see what you think, great customer service if you have any questions for them. Good luck in your set up! Oh and absolutely 0 wrong with the Burris if you already have it as far as seeing the sight, I have a Nikon Spur which is similar in red dot and have no issues. Just pointing out the Swampfox comes in green circle dot which does seem to show up better for me. You will love the size of a sight like this!

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I like the looks and specs of the kingslayer. I almost bought one last year before I discovered that they have an auto-off feature that turns the sight off after 4 hours. I often hunt more that 4 hours and didn't like the though of my sight being turned off when I clicked off the safety and tried to line up a turkey's head. The Burris also has an auto-off feature but it only turns off after 8 hours.

Southern Sportsman said:

I like the looks and specs of the kingslayer. I almost bought one last year before I discovered that they have an auto-off feature that turns the sight off after 4 hours. I often hunt more that 4 hours and didn't like the though of my sight being turned off when I clicked off the safety and tried to line up a turkey's head. The Burris also has an auto-off feature but it only turns off after 8 hours.

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I have never really worried with the feature because I never turn it on til I set up on a gobbling bird or have one coming in. I do not turn it on when I get out of the truck and leave it on. That may seem odd but if I walk up on a gobbler or something of that nature I am not shooting it anyways, so I just always flip it off and on, depending on if I am on a bird at the time . The only way the 4 hour deal would come into play for me is if I accidentally left it on as I left the woods or something. They are great sights, love the green circle dot. I realize that a lot of guys are like you want to turn them on and just leave it so they don't have to fool with it in the moment. I just never do that so it doesn't bother me at all. Just a battery saver for me if I forget to turn it off going home or something, which could happen! Lol

Couldn't find the EGW base anywhere so ordered the one from Sumtoy. Didn't see it on his site so sent an email and he replied right back. Hopefully it won't take forever to get here.

Check out the Meadow Creek Rib Mount. Mounts right to the rib of your gun in about 2 minutes and with a red dot no need to worry about eye relief.

HELP!!!

Does the sumtoy mount only use 1 screw to hold it to the receiver or is the long open area in the middle supposed to make it able to mount on various guns? I'm assuming 2 screws but that doesn't line up with the holes where I removed the site that came on it (see pic 1). There are what appear to be 4 other screws although I don't feel where the screwdriver slot is. Are these screws and I need to remove the camo paint off the top to get to the head of the screw? See inside red circles in second pic? If I use the slot to the left of the big hole I could use the one circled screw but again assuming that's what it is. If so any issue with the big hole being uncovered?

Didn't use the Sumtoy mount but here is mine, I didn't take my rear sight off. Mounts in front of it where it's drilled and tapped . Remove the inserts and see if it lines up. Those are not screws, should just pop out if I remember correctly.

Gravey said:

HELP!!!

Does the sumtoy mount only use 1 screw to hold it to the receiver or is the long open area in the middle supposed to make it able to mount on various guns? I'm assuming 2 screws but that doesn't line up with the holes where I removed the site that came on it (see pic 1). There are what appear to be 4 other screws although I don't feel where the screwdriver slot is. Are these screws and I need to remove the camo paint off the top to get to the head of the screw? See inside red circles in second pic? If I use the slot to the left of the big hole I could use the one circled screw but again assuming that's what it is. If so any issue with the big hole being uncovered?
View attachment 130154View attachment 130155

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deerfever said:

Didn't use the Sumtoy mount but here is mine, I didn't take my rear sight off. Mounts in front of it where it's drilled and tapped . Remove the inserts and see if it lines up. Those are not screws, should just pop out if I remember correctly.

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Thanks I'll try that.

Use the hole and the slot. The slot is what makes the SumToy a universal mount.

Roost 1 said:

Use the hole and the slot. The slot is what makes the SumToy a universal mount.

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That's what I figured. Will try to tap out 2 of the pins deerfever mentioned.

Ok so I got it on and took the site off that came on it. Used the rubber pins that were where I mounted the base to fill in the 2 screw holes from the original site and now have 2 more questions.

1. Is there something that can be used to plug the bigger hole in the middle? It was under the original site and no idea why it's even there. May be harmless but is bugging me.
2. Do you use the sunshade and if so do you leave it on there all of the time or carry it with you and use as needed?

No clue on that big hole in the middle, my scope sits above the original rear sight ( not in my way) so that's why I just left it on I can't stand looking at the hole! Lol. Yours sets a little lower it seems which is actually better . I may look into the mount you have, does it clear the front sight good? 2. I put mine in my vest and use it accordingly , if it rains or as I am leaving. I am sure there is a bigger plug made to cover that hole, if you find it please let me know as I may go to the same mount as you. Looks good!

deerfever said:

No clue on that big hole in the middle, my scope sits above the original rear sight ( not in my way) so that's why I just left it on I can't stand looking at the hole! Lol. Yours sets a little lower it seems which is actually better . I may look into the mount you have, does it clear the front sight good? 2. I put mine in my vest and use it accordingly , if it rains or as I am leaving. I am sure there is a bigger plug made to cover that hole, if you find it please let me know as I may go to the same mount as you. Looks good!

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I'm going to figure out how to take that front site off or have it removed as it will be in my way. It appears to be glued on as there are no screws except one. I removed it and all it does is remove the piece that protects the fiber optic piece. I remember you saying your gunsmith could cut it off but it's gotta come off somehow.

Holosun 507c . Adjustable dot or reticle. Auto on off. 50,000 hr battery life. Solar charger on top so won't use battery if getting sun.. Yes I have missed a turkey because my previous ff3 dot died mid hunt….